Travelling / Backpacking / Flashpacking the World!

My throat is ruined, I think I’ve got Tonsillitis again, it’s just taken me about half an hour to eat 2 slices of toast. After breakfast I started walking to the doctors in Mae Haad town and on the way stepped on a concrete manhole cover, which my foot and leg went straight through. Luckily I saved myself with my arms and so didn't end up all the way down it, even so my leg is all cut, grazed and running with blood although it was the shock of it that took me more by surprise. Unbelievable - what are the chances of that happening and whilst on the way to the docs as well, what a result, Happy New Year, what a start ha ha.

Anyway I then limped to the doctors where I had my leg cleaned and dressed, having it cleaned with alcohol solution and then Iodine was not a pleasant experience, it was stinging like crazy. Along with that I have also got a throat infection and so have now got 4 different types of antibiotics to take! 11 tablets a day for a week. Obviously I didn't do very much the rest of the day other than sleep and eat vegetable soup. Later in the evening I found the others and again had to do what I hate doing, saying goodbye. Im leaving first thing in the morning, me and Bob are going back to Bangkok and then going to Ko Chang for a few days.

Up early and met Bob at the ferry port, we then got a ferry to Chumphon, it’s a beautiful day and a beautiful crossing, not at all like our journey from hell over here. It’s a shame to be leaving Koh Tao, it’s beautiful and I’ve had such a good time here, it’s so relaxed and chilled out, just how a paradise island should be. It’s a shame to think that in ten years or so it will be totally different, very built up and with very few dive sites left. Unfortunately all the sewage and shower water, soap, shampoo and toothpaste etc from all the beach huts and bungalows goes straight into the ground and slowly runs into the sea which in turn is killing all the coral reefs. As the dive instructors say, Koh Tao's best diving days are now over, what a shame.

That’s the trouble with Thailand, it’s so fast developing, they keep building up these paradise islands with more and more accommodation for money, money, money and don't think about sanitation and the long term environmental effects, do they not realise that once it is ruined people won't visit.

Off the ferry and straight onto a coach for the 8 hour journey to Bangkok.

What a long day, it’s 9.30pm and we have just checked in to the old faithful Rainbow Guesthouse, all sorted and then out for a bite to eat, some internet action and then off to bed.

A lay in, breakfast, and then we got a tuk tuk to the MBK shopping centre which seems a hell of a lot bigger than I remember, last time I was here the upper floors were still being fitted out, it’s now 6 floors packed with shops, it’s huge and would take a week to get around it properly. We bought a few bits and pieces and even scored some Viagra, Bob has never done it before and wants to give it a go ha ha.

Lunch in a Japanese restaurant, they seem to be everywhere in this shopping centre so it must get a lot of Japanese visitors, awesome food. Back to the Th Khao San for some more shopping and we met an American friend of Bobs from Tokyo, Val and one of her friends Kristen for some dinner and a few beers.

Val is typical American, she loves talking about herself, and is extremely loud with a high pitched strong annoying American accent. I found myself talking mainly to Kristen who is so much quieter, she seems really down to earth and was curious as to what impression I had of America after travelling Vietnam etc, obviously I didn't hold back the truth ha ha, there was a bit of banter from both sides, all of which was meant and taken with good humour, So much so that after I left at midnight for an early one, she asked Bob for my email address, im intrigued!

Early start, we had breakfast in the Bangkok Royal Hotel just off the Th Khao San courtesy of Val and Kristen who have now left and gave us their vouchers. Back at the Rainbow and we left the bulk of our luggage in the storage room, a ruck sack each is more than enough. We are heading to Ko Chang, Thailand's second largest island and apparently the most untouched as it is part of the Ko Chang National Marine Park which includes another 46 islands. An 8 hour coach journey east from Bangkok across the coast line, most of which was spent chatting to another English guy called Steve.

What a quality guy, he has been on the road 2 and a half years and is now on his way to Cambodia to organize a team to help him and his friends build a school. He has basically dedicated this part of his life to trying to set up his own charity in order to help the children of third world countries around the world, he has also already fun raised and built a school in South Africa. What a guy, it’s not often you meet people like that, and the best bit is that he has invited us to help out on one of his future projects, it wont be for a while yet but could be in Zanzibar, I’m well up for it, what an experience that would be.

Anyway off the coach and onto a ferry for the 45 minute crossing over to Ko Chang where we met a couple of Irish lads. As soon as we arrived on Ko Chang the 4 of us hired a motorbike each from the ferry port, 7 pounds for 3 days and 1 night, quality! Well it’s dark already and check out this road, very bendy and very up and down with not a crash barrier or street light in sight. We are heading to Lonely Beach on the west side of the island where we got a hut for the night. Me and Bob then went for a sauna in an outdoor health centre recommended by Steve, a quality chilled out little place and really cool the way it has been built into the jungle. All clean and relaxed, we then met the Irish lads in the beach view restaurant where we are staying for a late dinner. We then had a drink in a girlie bar up the road, it was very cock heavy though so we left and hit the sack so we could get up early for a day of exploring the island.

Ko Chang island has only got one road on it which follows the coast line all the way around the island, although at the moment the 2 ends do not meet and a fair stretch of it is not complete ie. tarmac. Along the road on the west side of the island is where the majority of the beach resorts are located leaving the rest of the island virtually untouched. From Lonely beach we drove and explored in one direction until the road ended, joined only by an old wooden rickety footbridge that we were not going to cross on the bikes.

On the way we saw a load of wild monkeys, had a mission through some jungle to get to a waterfall that really wasn't worth the effort and on one of the bends in the road I ended up off the road and down a ditch with Bob off in the distance ha ha. A load of Thai guys came running over to see if I was Ok, they dragged the bike out, checked it for damage, just scratches and a broken bit of plastic, they even gave it a little test drive for me, and O look, Bob has come back after realizing I was no longer behind him ha ha.

Back on the bike and off we go again, I soon had to stop though because my hand is killing me, I’ve got a deep cut on the heel of my palm and my hand is swelling up, the cut is only about an inch long but its deep and full sand and dirt. I got my plastic toothpick out the end of my Swiss army knife, opened up the cut and started scraping it out, Bob said it reminded him of the Terminator. The pain of doing that was nothing compared to pouring on the old alcohol solution and Iodine which I just happen to have on me for my leg, it had to be done though, I don't want some sort of tropical infection. Bob reckons it might need stitches and to be fair it probably does, I’ll soldier on without though. That's the second accident so far this year, what will be the third ha ha.

Anyway we turned back and headed back in the other direction past Lonely beach, stopping at beach resorts and beautiful beaches along the way, the camera just can't do this place justice, it’s paradise. At the Siam Bay Resort we swam out to an island which didn't look too far away until we started swimming, towards the end of which we were swimming against the current, proper hard work, we made it though, and although it’s stinging like mad im sure the sea water is cleaning and doing my hand the world of good.

Totally deserted, we climbed and sat in a fallen down tree over the sea just chatting for the next hour or so before the swim back, which was a lot more leisurely as we had the current behind us. A well earned lunch and then back on the road, beautiful stop after beautiful stop and some of the views are awesome, and apart from the very few tourists on bikes and the odd taxi van the road is virtually empty, what a quiet and peaceful place. We stopped at a place called White Sands Beach Resort and got a hut each for the night, dumped our bags and then drove back to the sauna place, its a mission but well worth it and the saunas and sea water are doing my leg the world of good, its virtually healed up. All clean and fresh and on the way back we stopped off for some dinner and then hit a few bars before ending up in a night club near where we are staying called Sabai, it’s absolutely heaving with top fanny and lady boys.

We got chatting to a couple of Thai girls and then at closing after a stop at the 7/11 they joined us back at our resort for a drink on the beach. My birdie, Tammy, is nice and was all over me on the beach, where as Bobs is a bit rough and so he is having a bit of a nightmare and feels that he has got to sort her out for my sake ha ha, it didn’t stop him doing a Viagra though.

5am in the morning and it’s back to my hut and down to business, Unbelievable, what a change from on the beach. I think she just laid back and thought of Thailand, I can't believe it, she was smothering me on the beach and now she is just laying there, at one point I nearly got my washing out, I could have done my ironing on her. What a disappointment, im glad I didn't do a cheeky Viagra, I’m knackered so quickly lost interest and just went to sleep.

Less than 3 hours sleep and I’m up, we are meant to be going on a snorkelling trip around the islands in less than an hour and there is no sign of Bob. Banged on his hut and look at the state of him, all pale in the face and totally shagged out, he has been at it all night and is so tired that we had to cancel our trip, the poor lad just hasn't got it in him. Well I’m glad he had a good night his birdie may have been rough but at least she was up for it, he couldn’t believe it when I told him about mine ha ha.

Anyway after the girls had gone we both went back to bed for a few hours catch up sleep. By 1pm we were back on the bikes and carried on heading in the same direction as yesterday exploring the north and south east side of the island stopping at deserted beaches along the way, at the moment this side of the island is totally untouched and unspoilt, not a guesthouse, beach hut or resort in sight. Just a road, totally unspoilt beaches and thick jungle, what a place, it’s beautiful, hopefully being a National Marine Park it will stay this way although this is Thailand and so I seriously doubt it. The tarmac section of road eventually came to an end and the road turned into sandy gravel track, an absolute nightmare to ride the bikes on, going down hill you only have to touch the brakes and the bike starts sliding all over the place and then going up the steep hills, 2nd gear isn't quite man enough but then 1st gear is too much so you just end up wheel spinning all over the place, it’s a nightmare and with lots of very sketchy moments. It was Bobs turn to fall off ha ha, his alright though.

We ended up at Long Beach and at the only resort here called the Tree House which was also recommended by Steve. What a great place and it’s just so isolated, you can't appreciate how isolated until you have experienced the journey to get here. All the electricity here is supplied by generators and the Tree House resort itself is at the moment just a few nice wooden huts on stilts with a restaurant overlooking the sea and with hammocks to chill out in. A swim in the sea and then into the restaurant for some dinner whilst watching the sun go down! Quality food. There is only another couple of people here, it’s so relaxed and peaceful, it doesn't get much better than this, what a place. We both ended up falling asleep in a hammock before our mission of a journey in the dark back to White Sands, it’s so hard trying not to lose control on this gravel track, all good fun though, it wouldn’t be as exiting if it was all tarmac. The rest of the journey was fine and so good, not another vehicle to be seen. We got back to White Sands at 12.30, the journey took an hour and a half.

Up early, breakfast, and then off on our snorkelling tour around the islands.

What a day. We stopped and snorkelled around 3 different islands all of which were totally amazing and blew anything I saw whilst scuba diving in Koh Tao off the scale. So many different types of coral and fish, the best of all though was the second island we stopped at, the quantity of fish was unbelievable, thousands and thousands of the same type of fish all moving together as if one huge animal, and the variety of fish was also amazing, so many different shapes and colours, it was like something you would see on a BBC sea life documentary, absolutely amazing and without a doubt the best I have seen so far, with snorkelling like that you don't need to scuba dive.

Our last island stop of the day was for 2 hours on a beautiful white sand beach with sea water that was absolutely crystal clear. Whilst everyone else was relaxing on the beach Me and Bob swam out to, and in between 2 islands, the water is so clear it’s got to be a good 20m deep and we can see the bottom as clear as day. It was here that we saw sting rays, puffer fish, lion fish, eels, squid, barracudas and all sorts of other much larger fish, once again we were the last 2 back on the boat.

Back to White Sands and we had what will be my last Thai massage for a while on the beach as the sun was setting, if it wasn't for the mosquito's it would have been a lot more relaxing. We then grabbed our bags and then set off on the bikes for the mission in the dark back to the Long beach Tree House for the night. It’s worth every minute of the journey, great food and hammock swinging into the night, like I said, it doesn't get much better than this, what a day.

An early start for the mission back to the ferry port where we returned the bikes, I was expecting to be charged quite a lot for the damage done to my bike, I couldn’t believe it when they said 200b ( 3 pound ), that's amazing.

We got the 9am ferry back across to the mainland and then got on a coach for the 8 hour journey back to Bangkok. Ko Chang has got to be Thailand's best, for now anyway. It is the only place that I have been to that looks how it does on the post cards, Paradise, and in my opinion blows Ko Phi Phi and Koh Tao off the scale.

Anyway back in Bangkok and back to the Rainbow for the last time, a quick shower and then out for a couple of beers before dinner. My last Thai green curry, I can't believe that I am finally leaving Thailand tomorrow, it feels kind of weird. After dinner we went into Gulliver's, a night club at the end of the Th Khao San, absolutely packed with hookers giving it the old come on and asking for drinks, it’s all so fake, I’ll tell you what darling how about you buy me a drink and then I’ll buy you one back, they soon walk off, See Ya.

I left at 12.30am, Bob stayed as he was up for one more naughty night in Thailand ha ha.

Bags packed and then Bob the dirty old stop out made an appearance, a few things to sort out and then some last minute shopping for bargains on the Th Khao San. Lunch from one of the street stalls down an alley just off the Th Khao San, Im gonna miss Thailand's street food, it’s so good. We then had a beer together before saying goodbye. I then got a taxi to the train station and got the 2.45pm sleeper train heading down to Butterworth in Malaysia, it’s a 22 hour journey, the longest so far. I ended up sitting opposite a Norwegian guy called Stig, a bit of a strange odd ball character but he's cool, and he knows Asia like the back of his hand, he has spent 5 months here every year for the last 15 years, quality. A bit of train dinner and then spent the rest of the evening catching up with the old diary and talking to the Stig before going to bed.

Breakfast on the train and then after a couple of hours we stopped at the Thai/Malaysian border where we all had to get off the train on the Thai side, go through immigration and then get back on the train on the Malaysian side. On arrival to Butterworth we walked to the ferry port which is at the back of the train station and got a ferry across to Pinang Island, the first British outpost in South East Asia, hence the name of the main town, George town. Pinang is home to a mix of cultures, Malay, Chinese and predominantly Indian. The majority of people here are darker, fatter, and the women not as nice looking, and being a Muslim country there are quite a lot of people, mainly women, walking around in their bed sheets. It’s like being in North London only the people here are much, much nicer. We got a room in the old cheap and cheerful Oasis hotel in George town. Walking around the town there is quite a few very old dirty looking buildings a lot of which look derelict. In general this place seems very friendly, quiet, and relaxed although today being a Muslim holiday quite a lot of the shops are closed.

We had some very good Indian food in a little food place and then headed to the Komtar shopping centre. It’s pretty impressive and definitely the place for buying electrical goods, and quite western too, what with there being a Mc Donald's, Pizza hut and Starbucks coffee house right outside.

After a good wander around we shared a pizza in Pizza hut and then I left the Stig to head back for some internet action, it’s actually quite late and all the hookers are out, No Thanks, I wouldn't touch them with yours, they are awful, and look at the state of the lady boys, blatantly geezers, there not even in the same league as in Thailand.

A day spent on the back of a bike with the Stig exploring the island, what a driver, he is awesome.

Malaysia , or Pinang so far has really taken me by surprise, it’s not at all what I was expecting, it’s so much better and it’s actually really nice. It’s clean, very green and with lots of very nice looking colourful buildings and houses, and check out the high rise apartment blocks they put London's to shame. We stopped at the Pinang Botanical Gardens for a quick walk around, a really nice place with wild monkeys and lots of different types of trees and flowers, you could easily spend a whole day just walking around. Along the coastline the beaches look beautiful, again not at all what I was expecting and they are empty, there doesn't seem to be as many westerners here, not that I have seen anyway. We stopped at a few other places, temples etc, nothing too exiting.

The best bit of the day was driving up the mountains around the hundreds of crazy bends, what a driver, awesome. At a fruit stall the Stig bought some fruit called Durian, he loves it and it is Malaysia's number 1 fruit. Now I have seen Durian in Thailand but have never tried it due to the large number of people that have said that it is disgusting, but not only that, as if im going to take their word for it, I’ve just never had the opportunity. In Thailand and Malaysia it is not allowed on public transport due to its exceptionally strong smell. It smells absolutely ROTTEN, I had to try it though and if the smell isn't enough to put you off than the taste should be, there are very few foods that I don't like but that is one of them, it is disgusting. I actually thought that I was going to bring it back up, how the hell do they eat it. Apparently it does good things for men in bed, have they not heard of Viagra, I can't imagine a girl going anywhere near ya after eating that stuff, it is vile and it has done nothing but repeat on me all day.

Back on the back of the bike and that's all I could smell, Stig has got it in the basket wrapped up in plastic and cling film and the smell is still getting out, it’s awful. Anyway, we stopped off at a couple of good food places today where we had some more very good Indian food. Back at the hotel and it’s pretty late, some internet action and then some chill out time before going to bed, back on the road again tomorrow, we are heading to the Cameron Highlands which is part of the Titiwangsa Rainforest area, the oldest rainforest in the world.

Breakfast, and then got a bus to the express bus station where we got a coach for the six hour journey to the Cameron Highlands. Not much to report until nearer the highlands when it was up, down, and round mountains along some very bendy roads, with views all around of nothing other than misty covered mountains, tea plantations and tropical fruit and veg farms. The highlands range from 1500m-2000m above sea level so the old ears popped a few times along the way. At the Cameron Highlands we got off and headed to Daniels Lodge which was recommended to me by an Australian guy that I met yesterday. It’s set back behind and away from the main strip, it’s nice and a proper little travellers lodge, cheap, friendly staff, chill out sofas and coffee tables, bar and restaurant area, pool table and a film room with over 800 DVDs to choose from, Sorted.

Well there's not much day light left so we set off for a wander around, not much to see, just lots of green mountains all around. The town or village that we are in is basically one road which caters especially for tourists, lots of restaurants mainly Indian, souvenir shops and tour agents. We had a bite to eat and then I headed back to chill and watch a DVD. The temperature drop here in the evening is unbelievable, I ended up sleeping in 2 layers of clothes and under 2 blankets, it makes a change from sweating it up though.

8am start, a quick brekki and then off with 5 other lads and a bird in a 4x4 jeep for a day tour of the Cameron Highlands. It was quite a drive to the area of rainforest we were going to, passing a few Aborigine camps along the way and with a nice bit of off road action up a mountain, lots of sideways sliding going on, wicked. A few areas were very wet and muddy so we all had to get out so the jeep could get through and then get back in. With the jeep parked up we then set off with our guide trekking through the rainforest, it’s very hot, muddy and slippery and quite hard work, very up and down hill crossing little streams and rivers along the way. After about an hour and a half of trekking we ended up at what is at the moment the largest flower in the world, which is only found in south east Asia and only under thick rainforest canopy as it does not like too much sun or rain. The bud of the flower takes 5 years to fully develop, it then takes a further 8 months to fully bloom and then after all that the flower only lasts up to 10 days before starting to decay, Crazy, obviously with all that, it makes it pretty rare.

After the trek and back at the jeep, we then drove to one of the Aborigine villages for a demonstration in blow pipe hunting which is still practiced today for hunting and also used in fighting amongst different tribes. The blow pipes range in length depending on what is being hunted, the larger being more powerful and easier to aim and are all hand made along with the darts from bamboo. The end of the darts are dipped in a deadly poison which is extracted through boiling from the bark of a rare white tree which is found in the rainforest. The small amount of poison on one dart is enough to kill a man inside 10 minutes, although it is and can be used for that purpose the main use of the blowpipe is for hunting just about anything in the rainforest ie rats, birds, snakes, monkeys and even tigers although there isn't too many left due to poachers. We all had a go at firing the blowpipe at a target and it’s surprisingly powerful and easy to use. I only took a couple of pictures of the Aborigine village as I felt it was a bit intrusive. Before going to the village we stopped off at a shop and our tour guide showed us what we could buy the kids if we wanted to, cakes etc.

Everyone bought something to give them but I was the only person that handed out what I had bought, as we were leaving the village one guy in the group said xxxx the kids im hungry, I don't know why or how I didn't smack him in the mouth, what a complete dick, and they are all just as bad, it’s a packet of cakes, why would you not give them out?

We then drove to a little village for a late lunch and then after to a butterfly and insect farm. Not my thing at all, seeing and holding the insects was cool but breeding them to put in plastic picture frames so that stupid tourists can buy them to take home and hang on there wall is just cruel. Our next stop was at one of the many tea plantations, a walk around the factory to see how it is processed and then into the tourist trap, the tea shop/cafe for what if I’m honest could be the best cup of tea I have ever had, it was so nice I didn’t even put milk or sugar in it. We then drove to our last stop which was a hike down a river to a waterfall, a nice walk but after going to the waterfalls in Thailand and Laos it’s really not that impressive. It’s been a long, tiring, enjoyable day. Back at the lodge for a hot shower, so nice, I can't remember the last hot shower I had. I then just chilled out for a while and got chatting to a couple of German birds who arrived today before going out for dinner with the other lads on the tour.

We then just chilled out chatting back at the lodge along with the German birds till the early hours of the morning. I’ve no idea where the Stig is, I’ve not seen him all day.

A well earned sleep in and I have got the lodge to myself, everyone else is either out on tours or has left. The Stig rolled in at about 4.30am this morning and is now out on the tour that I did yesterday. It’s so peaceful here what with being able to hear the birds and insects singing and all I have done all day is lounge around. I was going to venture out for some exploring but it started raining and so I couldn’t be bothered. Later in the evening after Stig and the German birds, Anna and Jeannette had returned from their tour the 4 of us, along with there tour guide went out for dinner in a place called the Steam Boat.

Similar to what I have had before, a big pot of soup on a gas heater in the middle of the table and then you add and cook the rest of the ingredients as you want them, so much food came out, the usual noodles, eggs, vegetables, chicken and beef, but also squid, giant shrimps, and jelly fish which is a new one on me, it’s funny stuff but it’s nice, and all for 2 pound each, drinks included. After dinner the tour guide then drove us to a night market, it’s just a small market selling mainly food and souvenirs. Back at the lodge and we just sat around chatting before going to bed. As well as German both the girls speak perfect English, French, Italian and also good Chinese which they are studying at the moment whilst living in China, Cool a. And there's me only being able to speak English, Australian, New Zealand and American.

Said goodbye to Stig who ended up going out late last night and is now too hung over to come with us, he is going to follow on later but I have got no way of getting in touch with him and so doubt that I will ever see him again. All set and ready to go me and the girls got the 10.30am coach to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia's capital city. At KL it’s raining and the coach has terminated in the bus depot just outside of China Town which is where I said goodbye to the girls as they are staying with friends on the other side of the city.

Walking through China Town and there are hundreds of grubby looking guesthouses and backpacker hostels to choose from, I found one of the better hostels and decided to go for a dormitory bed, Malaysia is full of places with dormitory rooms unlike Thailand etc and so it will be the first time that I have stayed in one. It’s small and grubby so I just threw my bags on the bed and headed upstairs to the roof terrace to watch a film. When the rain had stopped I went out for some dinner and to check out the market that is here, it’s massive, packed, and definitely the place for buying fake designer goods.

Whilst having a look around for some last minute bargains before going to Oz, a Malaysian guy started chatting to me. I didn't think anything of it at first, just the usual stuff, what's your name, how long have you been here, where are you from etc. I always say im from London, and guess what, it just so happens that his sister is flying to London next week, he's worried about her and so he wants me to go with him for a drink so that I can tell him all about my country. What are the chances of that, bit of a coincidence isn’t it, he must think im stupid. I don't trust strangers, I trust my instincts, and I can smell a rat. Although he didn't want to take No for an answer I politely turned down his offer of a drink and said that if there was anything he wanted to ask me, then he could ask me now (in the street). But No, instead he wants to know where I am staying so that he can meet me later on tonight or tomorrow to introduce me to his sister. As if im gonna tell him where I’m staying, he's being way too pushy so I just said Sorry, I’m busy, meeting some friends, See Ya. Im 99% sure that his routine was the build to some sort of scam, and if im wrong and came across as being rude, he'll get over it.

Anyway back to the roof top to watch another film and eat the kilo of chess nuts I have just bought. Walking through the corridor on the way back to my dorm I thought I heard Stig’s voice, I stopped and listened outside one of the rooms, I’m sure that's him and so I knocked on the door. Yeah, he and a Canadian guy also from the lodge got here at about 10pm. Of all the guesthouses here and we end up in the same one, what are the chances, Crazy!

8am and we are on the sky train for the 2 stops into Kuala Lumpur City Centre, Where have all the Indians gone, most people are Chinese. Kuala Lumpur is a city of sky scrapers and shopping malls, and the first thing we saw, which we couldn’t miss when leaving the station was the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest free standing twin towers in the world, 88 floors of stainless steel and glass. Try taking a good picture, what with all the sky scrapers and other buildings you can't get far enough away from them to fit them in the camera shot. The towers are joined on the 24th floor by a walkway and also on the ground level by a huge 6 floor Designer goods shopping mall. At the back of the towers is a nice lake and park area which is the only place we could find to get a half decent shot. We then walked towards the Menara Kuala Lumpur Tower, at 421m high it is the 4th tallest telecommunication tower in the world. Being so big it only looked as if it was around the corner, what a mission. Surrounding the tower is the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve which we had to walk through in order to get to the tower, a nice walk, and good exercise but im now sweating like a pig, and guess what, there's another shopping centre at the base of the tower. At the top of the tower there is a revolving restaurant below which, 276m above ground level there is a 360 degree observation deck. Its here that you realize just how many sky scrapers Kuala Lumpur is home too and how big the Patronas Towers are in comparison, awesome views over the whole city but unfortunately the pictures were taken through glass so I’m not sure how they will come out.

We then got a taxi to Time Square which is without a doubt by far the biggest shopping centre that I have ever seen, Bluewater and Lakeside together wouldn’t come close. Ten floors of shops and get this, on the 5th floor there is a big inside roller coaster and theme park, Mad a?

I bought a pair of genuine Adidas trainers, 22 pound, I’m gonna need them for Oz. The Stig then had his palms read, I’ve only known him a few days but what the guy was saying about him seemed to make sense and Stig himself was agreeing. Now I don't believe in all that old flannel but being so sure of myself, my life, and what I want to do, I was curious as to what he would say about me and so decided to give it a go. All I told him was my date of birth but the way he described me as a person, personality and character, my career and love life was all spot on, which took me a little by surprise. He then went on to mention a couple of things that might happen in the future but as far as im concerned they could happen to anyone, predicting the future of my life, I don't think so. Only time will tell ha ha. We then walked around passing I don’t know how many other shopping malls one of which is 6 floors of shops selling just electrical goods, hundreds of shops selling nothing other than mobile phones, cameras, computers, laptops and I pods etc.

What a city, it’s big and clean with nice wide roads and not too much traffic, it’s got a good transport system (sky train etc) and no smog, it’s so different to Bangkok. It’s a pleasure just walking around just like any capital city should be. We then got the sky train back to China Town and then had a late dinner in a little Indian place. I then left Stig doing more shopping and headed back via the market for another kilo of chestnuts before going back to chill out. We are off to Singapore tomorrow.

We got the 10.30am coach down to Singapore, another 6 hour journey passing through immigration on the way. At the bus station in Singapore we didn't have a clue where we were and so got in a taxi. The driver was the most awkward, horrible, unhelpful bloke that I have so far on this trip come across, what a tit. We asked him to take us to the main part of the city but he insisted on having a road name or address so we then just asked him to take us to a guesthouse or hotel, he then insisted on knowing which one, we don't know, can you just take us to an area where there is a few of them so we can choose. According to him there are lots of hostels and he won't take us to one unless we tell him the exact name and address of where we want to go, he couldn't be any more awkward if he tried.

I remembered picking up a hostel card for Singapore a couple of days ago and so then had to hunt through my bag to find it, not only is he being extremely awkward he has got a serious attitude problem. On the way Stig was trying to make conversation with him, basically just trying to find out where abouts we are, and it was if the driver was just having a go at him, the way he was talking to Stig was well out of order. If only we were in England. His attitude was really winding me up but having only just arrived in the country I had to keep telling myself to stay out of it and stay quiet. After a while though I had to let him have it, who does he think he is talking to us like that. I don't know how but I didn't raise my voice, I just told him that he was really winding me up, and that he was being a complete dick and totally out of order and asked him what his problem was and why he was being so xxxxxx awkward. He shied down and started nervously laughing, I said I don't think your funny mate, your an idiot and I’m not laughing. He went quiet for a few minutes and then suddenly turned into quite a nice guy, no attitude and was actually quite helpful, why the xxxx could he not have been like that to start with.

At last we were at a hostel, not just one the road is full of them. HOW MUCH, 10 pound a night for a dorm bed, a hell of a difference from the other countries I’ve been to, I better get used to it though, I’ll be in Australia in 4 days, it hasn't really sunk in yet. A Thai massage here is 20 pound for one hour, No thanks, not unless it’s with a happy ending. The hostel is really nice, it’s got a kitchen area, tv , pool table etc and breakfast is included. The area we are in is called Little India and it’s easy to see why, lots of shops selling spices, sarees, Indian gold, and all sorts of other Indian handicrafts and souvenirs, and not forgetting all the Indian restaurants. After a bite to eat Stig set off to do his own thing and I bumped into a couple of Australian guys that were on my Cameron Highlands tour. We then got chatting to a Welsh guy called Matt and then 2 English birds, Nicola, from Richmond, and Katrina, from Canterbury.

After a beer we then set off to check out Singapore's China Town area which meant a ride on what's known as the MRT (Mass Rapid Transport System) which is one of the most modern and efficient underground/tube systems in the world. It’s so different to what im used to in London, it makes London underground look pathetic. The stations are all big and well laid out, clearly sign posted, and absolutely spotlessly clean. And the trains themselves are in another league, so much more spacious and again absolutely spotless, not only that they are extremely cheap to use. Off the train at China Town and what a difference compared to the China towns of KL and London, it’s so clean, I’m not sure about some of the food being sold though, pigs feet, what the hell are you meant to do with them. After a slow walk around the packed streets amongst the hundreds of market and food stalls we had a beer and a bite to eat in a little restaurant and then got the MRT back to Little India. Back at the hostel for another beer and then just chilled out before going to bed.

Had breakfast then packed my bags and moved to a cheaper hostel which is literally no more than 30m up the road. I met Nicola and Katrina and map in hand we set off to explore Singapore's city centre. What a beautiful city, ask anyone who has been here about Singapore and the first thing they always say is how clean it is. And they are not wrong, apart from a few leaves on the ground it is spotless, smoking in public places and chewing gum are both banned, the remains of which cannot be seen anywhere. It’s very multi-cultural, lots of Chinese, Japanese, Indian etc and with lots of expensive restaurants. The city is full of high rise office buildings, beautiful expensive high class hotels, and shopping malls, on the section of map I have got I counted 78 shopping malls alone. Our first stop was at the famous Raffles Hotel and shopping arcade. Declared a national monument in 1978, Raffles hotel is a jewel in the crown of Singapore's hospitality industry, renowned and loved for its inimitable style and unsurpassed excellence in service and hospitality. It was here in the Long Bar that the world-famous Singapore sling cocktail was created. We had a walk around the shops and courtyards, a seriously nice hotel with seriously expensive shops.

We then walked to the river which runs through the city which used to be the lifeline of Singapore which transformed it from a remote fishing island to a great seaport. It was here that I got on a boat for a short river cruise whilst the girls sat and waited for me, they done it yesterday. After the tour we then crossed the river to where what used to be old shop houses and godowns along the river bank, to what has now been transformed into speciality restaurants and English pubs and wine bars, many of which are owned by ex-patriots. We sat by the river and had lunch in one of the Thai restaurants, we ordered rice and then 4 different dishes between us which we shared, beautiful food. We then walked from the river and ended up in the city's financial area where it is just about to start raining so we found a coffee house and sat down for a coffee and a cake each, quite possibly the dearest cup of coffee (Mexican latte) I will ever have. After the rain had stopped we then started heading back towards Raffles and ended up getting caught in a serious down pour, we ended up running into a little security hut where an old Chinese guy let us take shelter. We must have sat there for nearly an hour before the rain came to a stop, check out the road, it’s turned into a river. We eventually got to Raffles and than sat in the Long Bar and had a Singapore Sling each and lots of complimentary nuts. A really nice proper cool bar, and it’s the only place in Singapore where you can break the No Littering law by dropping your nut shells on the floor.

Back in Little India and we got the MRT and then a bus to the Singapore Night Safari, the Worlds first and only nocturnal zoo. It is also one of the very few open zoo's in the world, whereby set in open natural jungle the animals are separated from each other and visitors by rivers and trenches rather than bars and cages. Since arriving in Singapore I have heard so many people raving about it and bigging it up but personally I found it very, very touristy, tacky, and quite un- enjoyable. There are lots of different walking routes which are signposted for you to guide yourself around but first we got on the tram which goes all the way around the park. Going around it was as if all the animals had been strategically placed and were waiting for us to come around, as if there was someone ahead of us putting there food where they wanted the animals to be for us. We then did a couple of the walking routes but again I wasn't impressed. The icing on the cake though was watching one of the animal shows, seeing what are meant to be wild animals performing and doing stupid tricks. It’s clever how the animals are trained to do what they do, but I really don't find that sort of thing entertaining.

I know it’s nice for people to go to a zoo and see animals that they wouldn’t otherwise get to see, some of which in a few years will only be found in zoo's, but at the end of the day as far as im concerned they are just domesticated pets that lay around and get fed 3 times a day. In a zoo you don't get to see the real animal, the hunters or the hunted, your seeing animals that have been taken out of the wild and so have had there spirit and soul taken away, or you’re seeing animals that have been bread in captivity and that put in there real surroundings probably wouldn't last 24 hours. Personally I would rather look at there pictures in books then see them in a zoo where they are unhappy and have had there natural habitats and the things that make them the beautiful amazing creatures they are taken away. Zoo's are just not my thing, and the girls are not overly impressed either.

A taxi back to the hostel and I sat and had a beer whilst the girls got changed. We then, along with 3 other girls that Ii thought were quite unsociable and so didn't actually say more than 2 words to them all night, got a taxi to a night club called ZOUK, which is voted the 3rd best club in the world. It’s 3 different clubs joined together the other 2 being Velvet Underground and Phuture, all different and all playing different music. It’s absolutely packed with Chinese and Japanese, they can't handle there drink bless em, I think I only saw about a dozen other westerners all night. A good night and a very late night but I don't know why it is voted the 3rd best club in the world, it didn't seem like anything special to me, although personally I couldn't care less what the club looks like, it’s all about the atmosphere and the people you are with, me and my buddies at home could go to a right dive of a place and still have a wicked night. What a day, I’ve spent a small fortune ha ha.

Despite not getting in till 5.30am this morning, I was up and wide awake at 9am. A shower and some brekki and then up the road to the girls hostel for a bit before saying goodbye, they are heading off for Malaysia. I’m just gonna chill out today, tomorrow I’m going to go to Sentosa island, a small island just off of Singapore, I’ve heard that you can get there by cable car and so im just going to go off and check it out, route and prices etc. A trip on the MRT to see where the cable cars leave from and then after walking around for ages in the roasting humid heat trying to find out how you can get up Mount Faber on foot, I eventually gave up and got a cable car instead.

Mount Faber is a small mountain on the South west of the island and is home to a nature park and views over the city. The cable cars are cool, I’ve not been in one before, really high up so the views are awesome. At the top of Mount Faber there is just 1 restaurant, a bar and a souvenir shop, it’s really not that exiting, the views over the city are good but that's about it. I couldn’t be bothered to walk around the nature park and so just ended up plotting on a bench and had a little siesta, it’s so quite and peaceful. Back at the hostel I then just spent the rest of the day chilling out, going through my backpack, and sorting a few things out for Australia, had to print off a copy of my works visa and Australian bank account details etc for immigration. I had a late dinner, internet action and then off to bed. I can't believe that I’m flying to Australia tomorrow night, it just doesn’t seem real, it’s not sinking in at all. Damn I’m going to miss this!

Bags packed and into the luggage area, I then met one of the Australian guys from my Cameron Highlands tour (I can't remember his name) as arranged and set off toward Sentosa island. The MRT and then a cable car and we are there. A nice island but it’s extremely touristy, the island has been purely manufactured as a tourist outing destination and so everything is dearer.

There is loads of stuff to do here most of which involves paying expensive entrance fees and to be honest most of which I’m not in the least bit interested in, ie orchid farms, butterfly parks, bird shows, dinosaur museum, jungle trails etc, etc, The beaches here are beautiful but even they are man made. A walk around and then we went into the Underwater World, the entrance fee to which includes a dolphin show. They were pink dolphins and as much as I don't like seeing animals in captivity I’ve got to admit that it was a really good show and I did enjoy it, they are beautiful animals and they are so, so clever. After the show we then went into the underwater world itself. A lot better than I thought it would be and again I really enjoyed it. It was nice being able to take pictures of some of the different types of fish and coral which is something you can't do when you’re diving, not without a decent underwater digital camera anyway.

Another walk around, there really isn't that much of real interest or excitement here so we headed back to Little India. Back at the ranch and I gave Kelly a ring, for those of you who don't know, Kelly is an Australian girl from Perth that I met in Prague last February. At the moment she is living and working in Melbourne but she has arranged for me to stay in her house in Perth along with the 4 other people that she is renting it out to, she has even arranged for one of the girls from the house, Sharon, to pick me up from the airport in the morning, and as well as that has given me the use of her car which is also at the house. It goes without saying that im feeling pretty chuffed at the moment, THANK YOU KELLY.

It’s so nice knowing that I have got somewhere to head for and a place to stay, 3 days ago I thought it was going to be hostels all the way. It’s going to be so nice to be in a place for a while that I can call home, and as much as I don't want to, and as hard as it’s going to be, get back to some sort of reality and routine, working and training again. I’ve got up to a year in Australia so I have got plenty of time to relax and decide what I want to do. Anyway a bit of time to kill with some internet action and then it’s on to the MRT to the airport, my flight is at 1.15am which is cool as I should be able to get some sleep. All checked in and then I sat in a bar and had a couple of beers with an English guy that I met on the train.

Check the airport out, it’s so modern and spotless and as well as all the usual airport facilities it provides free internet, beds to lay down on whilst waiting for your flight, and a cinema, all of which are free. Well after a bit of hanging around it’s on to the plane for the 5 hour flight to Perth. This is it, after just over 4 month's on the road and 6 countries later, it’s now time to say goodbye to South East Asia, the adventure of which has been absolutely amazing. 3 - 4 days ago I was gutted to be leaving South East Asia. As much as I have always wanted to go to Australia I had no idea just how amazing South East Asia was going to be, I was really in 2 minds about leaving. However speaking to Kelly today and everything that she has sorted out for me has made leaving a hell of a lot easier. I’m still sad that this part of my adventure is now over but im now ready to move on to the next, new and totally different adventure of Australia.

5 hours later and with no time change it’s now 6am in Western Australia ( Perth). Immigration is a bit strict, all food brought into the country must be declared which means I had to hang around to declare a packet of peanuts, I then got pulled by security for having a knife in my backpack, it’s not a flick knife so its OK. Out into the arrivals lounge and Sharon found me straight away, I had told Kelly to tell her what hat I would be wearing. On the way to the house which is only about a 15 minute drive from the airport one of the first things I see was a Chinese temple, can you believe it.

Kelly's house is in a quiet suburb called Mount Lawley which is just outside the city centre. The house itself is really nice, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, air con, and because all of Kelly's stuff is still here it’s fully furnished, computer included. A shower and a sort out and then as they woke up I met the others, Sharon and Heidi are from New Zealand, Martina from the Czech Republic, and Roberto from Italy. Later in the afternoon I got a bus into the city with Roberto (Bobby). This is going to sound silly but it felt really weird being on a bus full of white people and with everyone speaking English, it’s almost as if I’ve got to adjust back into western life. The fact that im no longer on the move living out of a backpack, having hot water, sitting on the sofa and watching TV, sitting in the garden, having the use of a car, having a fridge and kitchen full of food, and more than anything being able to drink tap water, after 4 month's of drinking nothing but bottled water it felt kind of weird.

Around the city and I bought an Australian sim card for my phone, something else that feels weird. Perth seems a lot like home only much nicer, cleaner, and hotter, it’s 30 degrees today. Back home and I walked up to the gym which is literally at the end of the road, although being Saturday it has closed early so I had a walk around to get my bearings. It’s really quiet and peaceful here, kind of like where I live in England. A short walk away and there is also a Blockbusters, KFC, Mc Donald's, kebab shops, chippies, sweet shops etc, etc, and for some reason there seems to be a lot of churches around here. Back at the house and it’s dinner time, you are not going to believe what Sharon has cooked, a green curry, Crazy!

Not much to report really just chilling out, taking it easy, and gone from eating rice to eating pasta everyday. I’ve joined the gym at the end of the road, it’s massive and the membership includes access to all the facilities, swimming, sauna, fitness classes etc, and so that is pretty much all I have been doing, that's me sorted for the next month or so. Over 4 months without doing anything and I may have lost some shape but I certainly haven't lost my fitness, which I am very surprised about.

Had a trip into the city to collect my works visa, sort out my Australian bank account and card, and then got a medi care number. Perth city centre is beautiful, colourful and so clean and modern. The high streets are full of nice shops and coffee houses, benches to sit on and flowers and trees up the high street giving the place colour and a nice relaxing feel. I had a mission getting home, what should have been a 10 minute bus journey took me 4 buses and about an hour and a half, what a nightmare, the bus drivers are useless, I’ll make sure I know what number bus to get on next time ha ha.

Had my first drive in Kell's car, it’s got air con which for some reason doesn't work and for some reason the indicators aren't working either, anyone who as ever driven behind me at home knows that im not going to find the indicators a problem ha ha. The air con though, it’s hot, it’s been 30 degrees plus all week.

Thursday was Australia day and my first (and last) night out in the city. The evening started off well, we got a taxi into the city and there were fireworks going off everywhere, off the tops of buildings etc, I’ve never seen so many fireworks, I didn't know which way to look. We walked down to the Swan river where we sat with a couple of bottles of wine and watched the fireworks over the river, the area is absolutely packed with people and the fireworks seemed to go on forever. With the wine gone and the fireworks over we then walked through the city to an area called Northbridge which is Perth's main nightlife area. What a xxxx hole, I can’t believe it, so much attitude and I feel like a spot on a domino, Blacks, Asians and Aborigines everywhere. What is this place all about, it’s terrible, people fighting in the streets, groups of coloureds hanging around on corners. All the old bill are wearing stab vests and slash proof gloves because the Blacks and Asians are all tooled up (coppers words not mine). Anyway, through the fights and crowds and into a club, 9 dollars (4 pounds) for a bottle of nasty Australian beer. What a crap club, it’s a sausage fest and its full of attitude, not a place where I want to be drinking and so after only 1 beer I left the others and walked to the train station.

Anyone who knows me knows that im not easily intimidated and I very rarely feel outside my comfort zone, I do tonight though. Over 4 months in South East Asia and not once did I feel unsafe or unable to handle a situation, I can't believe it, It’s taken me 5 days in Australia. Whilst getting a ticket out of one of the machines at the train station a group of Blacks circled around me and started trying to make conversation, I just blanked them, pushed my way through them and headed down the escalator towards the crowds. Maybe I’m paranoid but why would you circle someone to talk to them, im guessing it wouldn’t have taken them too long to pull a blade and ask for money, losers. I found out in the morning that the trains are pretty much no go areas of a night time, people are always getting mugged, and apparently taxis are the way to go. How can this place be that bad?

Reading the paper and listening to the news on Saturday was something else, the first few pages of the paper were full of violent incidents, the amount of people that were stabbed or had there faces slashed is unbelievable. I suppose being Australia day every bit of scum and every waster was out on the town at the same time making it appear worse than it normally would be, but from what I’ve heard it doesn't normally get much better. My first impressions of Australia, or Perth (nightlife at least) are not good.

Going to the gym everyday is great but I’m really starting to get bored of just hanging around the house now. I really miss being on the move and living out of a backpack, if im not going to get a job I might as well just see some sights and then get back on the road. I’m not going to waste time and money going out drinking, this place just hasn't got the right vibe and there will be plenty of time for that on the east coast. Being in a house also makes it so hard to meet people, apart from the guys I’m living with and the odd few people down the gym that I have spoke to I haven’t actually met anyone, a few nights in a hostel and that will soon change.

.... continued on Feb page